'Flawless'

10/24/08

SMASH

I consider Demi Moore (pronounced deh-mee, not demmy) the ultimate cigarette actor. Just light up, give her the stick, let her go, and reap the benefits of a perfectly executed scene. It seems that Hollywood directors and producers have caught on to this tactic as well, because nowadays she seems to be holding a cigarette more often in her films. I give her credit too, because very few actors can make that roll work the way Demi does. She thrives off the cig. Her performance is fueled by the cig. If the cig ain’t deliverin’, Demi don’t deliver. But I digress. What does Demi Moore’s on-screen tobacco addiction have to do with Flawless? Well, she smokes in the flim, so… That much I guess. 

Flawless, in it’s own right, is just as the title describes. The story, albeit on the surface sounds like one we’ve heard/seen a million times over, is enough to perk one’s interest. A bank heist set in late 1950’s-early 1960’s London starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. Find me a person who wouldn’t want to see it. A more in depth synopsis perks the ears further. Laura Quinn (Moore) works as the only female executive at the London Diamond Corporation. Although perfectly qualified, if not more so than the rest, her consideration for promotion in the company is consistently thwarted by her gender. (Cue cigarettes.) The janitor, Hobbs (Caine), has been with the company for fourteen years and has been in acquaintance with Ms. Quinn, but only as much as his caretaking skills were required. Hobbs, having a bone to pick with London Diamond, plans to rob the bank and steal a handful of diamonds, a scheme fourteen years in the making. (Caine’s handicapped old janitor is a perfect mix of tenderness and intrigue, sure to keep the audience wondering about his true motives in the scam.) Hobbs needs Laura’s help. Laura, irritated by the fact that she has once again been rejected for a promotion, consents. From there the film goes off on a very fun ride full of ploys, lies, anger, and suspense, and keeps one’s breath short, heart rate up, and stomach churning with nerves. Michael Caine turns in yet another magnificent performance, proving that no matter how many times he’s asked to play the unusual cockney character, he’ll still make it brilliant. The chemistry between the two leads was very natural and believable. And in a plot to steal a most treasured stone, (quite a few to be exact), on the Earth from the largest Diamond distributor on the Earth, being natural is a must. I’ve seen diamonds and I’ve seen movies, but the combination of movie and radiance is almost as rare as the rock itself. In cutting diamonds, anything short of immaculate precision and you wind up with another piece of gravel. Flawless was the Crown Jewel.

Critic: A-

Fan: A